Mother charged in daughters’ murders near Carson could face death penalty

A mother who allegedly stabbed her three young daughters to death in her home near Carson could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted of the slayings, but a family member said Friday that her husband “doesn’t want anybody throwing the book at her.”

Rudy Coronado prefers that his wife receive help, the relative said.

Prosecutors on Friday charged Carol Coronado, 30, with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, an allegation that she used a knife, and a special circumstance charge alleging she committed multiple murders.

Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty, the District Attorney’s Office said.

News of the charges came as family members walked a cemetery grounds to pick a spot to bury the girls. The girls’ godfather, John Carrion, said Rudy Coronado was “doing the best he can do.”

“He doesn’t want anybody throwing the book at her. He wants her to get help,” Carrion said. “It was his wife. He loved her. He is concerned for her. He understands what happened, but he is adamant whatever happened wasn’t her. She needs help.”

Coronado, who had been hospitalized since Tuesday at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, was set to be booked Friday into the County-USC Medical Center jail ward. Because of her medical condition, it was not immediately clear when Coronado would appear in Compton court.

The attempted murder charge alleges Coronado attacked her mother, Julie Piercey, when Piercey discovered the bloody scene in her bedroom and grabbed the knife away from her.

Coronado stabbed herself in the chest after allegedly killing the children, authorities said. She is charged with killing her daughters — Sophia, 2 1/2; Yazmine, 16 months; and Xenia, 2 months — shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday in her bedroom while her husband was working on his pickup truck across 223rd Street near Meyler Avenue.

Her mother, Piercey, arrived and was told to go on inside, where she made the discovery, screaming “Oh my God!” and snatching the kitchen knife from her daughter’s hand.

Coronado’s sister-in-law, Sandra Coronado, told the Daily Breeze that Coronado was crying and said she was exhausted during a telephone call hours before the slayings.

The motive remains unknown. Sheriff’s detectives are investigating whether she suffered from postpartum depression, mental illness, drug abuse or had some other motive for the crime.

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Autopsy results have not been released.

Family members had scheduled another vigil Friday night outside the home.

Funeral services are pending. Family members have scheduled car washes this weekend at Henry’s Market at 184th Street and Avalon Boulevard to help pay the expenses. Other fundraisers are scheduled, including some on the gofundme.com site.